So a pal of mine is a big time writer in New York City for a big time men’s magazine. It ain’t GQ, but it might as well be. He mostly writes about senseless stuff such as style and fashion, but every now and then he hits a tune that my ears can comprehend. Just this last week, it was Hamilton 1883 shirts.

What are Hamilton 1883 shirts all about? They are 100% American made button downs that cost a small fortune, but last a lifetime. Admittedly, I only own one shirt from the Houston based taylor, but I’ve owned and worn it since 1999. If you are doing a cost analysis, your calculator will tell ya that the shirt has cost me about $18 a year… and that number is getting smaller.

There is something to be said for quality… even if it meshes with fashion.

I know a lot of you fellas out there work with your hands – either by trade or by hobby. A lost tool to many of you is the shop apron. If you’ve never used one, you would have a hard time imagining their usability. It’s about more than keeping your shirt and pants clean. It’s about having a platform to work from. You should try it out… And if you do, you might as well use the best aprons in the world.

I drive a car every day that has no heater. It’s damned cold this week… As such, I’ve added a new toy to my EDC. Enter the Zippo hand warmer. I thought it was a cheesy idea until I tried it. Holy hell, I’m a fan.

You forget that Timex is actually a pretty classic American watch maker. I’m sure they aren’t so American anymore, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t tip their hats to that old style. And they have… The new Timex Originals brand is pretty rad.